CCCCatholic ink inkinkinkL EPIPHANYEpiphany of the Lord Year A Divine Office: Week II 5 January 2020

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SUNDAY MASSENTRANCE ANTIPHON:Behold, the Lord, the Mighty One, has come; and kingship is in his grasp, and power and dominion.FIRST READING: Isaiah 60:1-6.RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 72.RESPONSE:All nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.1. O God, give your judgement to the king, to a king’s son your justice, that he may judge your people in justice, and your poor in right judgement. ℟2. In his days shall justice fl ourish, and great peace till the moon is no more. He shall rule from sea to sea, from the River to the bounds of the earth. ℟3. The kings of Tarshish and the islands shall pay him tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring him gifts. Before him all kings shall fall prostrate, all nations shall serve him. ℟4. For he shall save the needy when they cry, the poor, and those who are helpless. He will have pity on the weak and the needy, and save the lives of the needy. ℟SECOND READING: Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6.GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:Alleluia, alleluia! We have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship the Lord. Alleluia.GOSPEL: Matthew 2:1-12.COMMUNION ANTIPHON:We have seen his star in the East, and have come with gifts to adore the Lord.

HAVING just celebrated Christmas and the feast of the Holy Family, we now come to celebrate the manifestation (Epiphany) of

“the infant King of the Jews”.This extraordinary story of the wise men

from the east is full of symbolism, from start to f inish. The circumstances surrounding the concep-t ion and bir th of th is unique infant had already involved ex traordinar y mani festat ions (epiph-anies): the annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel to Mary that she was to be the mother of the Messiah, the miraculous conception of the infant, the choirs of angels singing to the shepherds on Christmas night.

The d iscernment of the wise men is another manifestation (epiphany) about the new-born. Led by a star, the wise men declared “We saw his star as it rose”. Their journey of faith to do homage to the new-born is full of mystery and wonder. Their faith, their journey, their “Star”, are all symbolic of the mystery, the role and the destiny of the Babe of Bethlehem. Likewise, their experience stands for the f irst manifestation (epiphany) of Jesus to the Gentile (pagan) world.

Apart from their conversation with Herod, it is noticeable that no actual words of the wise men are recorded. They are silent before the Holy Family; they pay silent homage “falling to their knees” before the infant king of the Jews. They made a silent offering of their gifts and silently withdraw and discreetly return to their own country by a different way.

Can we not see in this silence something of the awe and mystery of the occasion? Can we not notice that their homage borders on silent adoration? Do we not learn from their wisdom to enter into that same silent wonder, not

only at the beauty of the manifestation, but at the joy and peace which the tiny divine child brings to all humanity?

Even the gifts which the wise men offered to Jesus are heavily symbolic. The gift of gold was perceived as a gif t suitable for a king; Jesus was and is not only the King of the Jews, but the Universal King of all creation. The gif t of incense was considered appropriate for a priest as incense was used in abundance in the Temple worship; Jesus, the great High Priest, would initiate a new way of worshipping

the Father in spirit and truth. Myrrh was a gift for the last burial rites of the dead; Jesus was destined for the way of the Cross and for a sacrif icial death for all humanity.

Silent meditation on the gifts offered by the wise men nudges us to consider what we might offer the Infant King. Our most precious possession, our heart of love, is surely the gold of our life; are we happy to offer our heart to this Child of the Father? The fragrance of our lives should rise like incense to the Father. And our sharing in the Passion and death of Jesus will be a sharing in his burial and in the glory of his Resurrection.

The Epiphany manifests something of the mystery of Jesus and something of the mystery of our own lives.

Live the Word T H E W E E K A H E A D

(KEY: SOLEMNITY; FEAST; Memorial; (Optional Memorial)Pr=Priest; Ab=Abbot

Mon 6 Jan Liturgy of the Day1 John 3:22–4:6; Psalm 2; Matthew 4:12-17.23-25To repent means two things: to turn from sin and to turn towards God. It implies a complete turning around or an about-turn in our lives, a decision that will re-orientate our hearts and our minds.

Sun 12 Jan BAPTISM OF THE LORDIsaiah 42:1-4.6-7; Psalm 29; Matthew 3:13-17Just as the Spirit hovered over the primeval waters at the dawn of Creation, so now the Spirit is at work in Jesus — and in each of us, to become new creations in Christ through our own Baptism.

Sat 11 Jan Liturgy of the Day1 John 5:14-21; Psalm 149; John 3:22-30We can all be “I” specialists at times. It is this “I” (or ego) which John refers to that must decrease – not who I am created by God as a complete person. Allow Christ to increase in you, that you may be transformed in Him.

Fri 10 Jan Liturgy of the Day1 John 5:5-13; Psalm 147; Luke 5:12-16It is natural to pray for physical healing when we become sick, or our lives are threatened. But we also need to look deeper, seeking God’s gift of divine life so that we can be healed from within.

Thu 9 Jan (St Adrian of Canterbury, Ab) 1 John 4:19–5:4; Psalm 72; Luke 4:14-22The Lord often has plans for us that are obvious only in hindsight. How often have we said ‘no' to something or someone only to end up in much the same place anyway. The Lord knows what’s good for us. Learn to trust God?

Wed 8 Jan Liturgy of the Day1 John 4:11-18; Psalm 72; Mark 6:45-52Life offers us many reasons to be afraid – pain, loss, sickness and death. Only perfect love can cast out fear. We cannot love perfectly, but God can. Seek God in prayer.

Tue 7 Jan (St Raymond of Penyafort, Pr)1 John 4:7-10; Psalm 72; Mark 6:34-44Laws ideally state those things that are for the best interests of everyone and make sure the rights of all are safeguarded. From St Raymond, we can learn a re-spect for law as a means of serving the common good.

Epiphany/Manifestation

HOLY REDEEMER PARISH

Tel: 021 712 2210 or 712 1181

Parish Priest: Fr. Anthony Padua CSsR e-mail:parishpriest@holyredeemer.co.za Assistant Priest: Fr. Joseph Udoudo CSsR Secretary: Philippa Cecchini parish@holyredeemer.co.za www.holyredeemer.co.za - Naquita.hendricks@gmail.com

Weekly diary Saturday 4th to Sunday 12th Jan 2020

YEAR A Page. 68 Mass Intentions

4th Sat 6.00pm

Mortuary List

5th Sun 7.30am 9.00am 11.00am 6.00pm

EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

Vincent & Lawrence Clarence RIP Parishioners John & Janet Noah – RIP Isabel Gorgulho - RIP

6th Mon 8.30am Deceased Redemptorist - RIP

7th Tues 8.30am Bernie Sheldon – Special Intention

8th Wed 8.30am Joseph Sepp – RIP

9th Thur 8.30am Richard Wynn de Wet & Diane Gorgulho – RIP

10th Fri 8.30am Benefactors Redemptorists

11th Sat 8.30am 6.00pm

Sister Lawrence OP – RIP Isabel Gorgulho - RIP

12th Sun 7.30am 9.00am 11.00am 6.00pm

BAPTISM OF THE LORD

Mortuary List Mark & Christiana Gilmer & Baby Thomas – Blessing Parishioners Sister Julia OP - RIP

Anette Milner is offering her services for family or individual counselling. Contact details: 083 710 0598

ALPHA 2020

All of us explore. We ask questions, we seek answers. Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that explores all the big questions of life with food, a talk and open discussion.

Explore life, faith, meaning and more, #tryAlpha.

Why don’t you join us on Wed, 22 Jan 2020 @ 7pm in the parish

centre?

For further details find an information brochure and registration form at the repository, contact Nathan Less at nathan.less@gmail.com or on 073 858 9589, check us out the Holy Redeemer website or chat to an Alpha Group member.

HALL BOOKINGS FOR 2020 THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR BOOKINGS FOR 2020, can those who have not done so yet please send to Philippa as soon as possible.

100 CLUB

The next draw takes place on Thursday 9th January 2020

New Year’s Eve Dance

The Catholic Men’s Group would like to thank everyone who

attended the New Years Eve Dance and made it the huge

success it was. The proceeds came to R11 813.00.

SNAP TO PAY HERE

Please pray for our sick: Helga Boyles, Pam Cable, Gloriana Cloete, Dulcie Da Silva, Wilf de Hahn, Matthew Ford, Caryn Gorton, Peter Hansen, Dale Heynes, Dawn Heynes, Russell Heynes, Kerry Heideman, Gerald Louw, Fr. Lunny, Dennis Michaels, Di Owens, Monty Pasqualie, Ernest Peskin, Sybil Robbins, Jean Rother, Marion Samuels, Anthony Scott, Elizabeth Scott, Jane September, Lionel September, Margie Wilhelm, Linda Moses, Keith Gomez, Meg Vincentini, Trevor de Beer, Carol-Ann Scholtz, Silvia Peters, Tracy van Wyk, Priscilla Hickey, Fr. Duncan Blackie, Morris Orgill, Rosetta Orgill, Dawn vd Horn, Dawn Forsdyke, Joy & George Hitchman, Jelena Kruzic, Lester Jones, Edith Fabing, Royston Bergman, Lisa Foley ,Eileen Toy, Jeremy & Brendan Basson, Lela Fernandes and Imelda Toerien.

PLEASE NOTE WE WILL CLEARING THE SICK LIST NEXT WEEK. IF YOU WOULD

LIKE A NAME ON THE SICK LIST PLEASE LET THERESA OR PHILIPPA KNOW -021 712 2210

KICK-OFF SUNDAY

Registration for Catechetics & Life Teen Confirmation will take place

after mass on 19th January 2020 in the parish centre.

Life Teen. The first Life Night for 2020 will be on Sunday, 26th

January 2020. The Life Night will commence with Youth Mass at

18h00 and will be followed by the Life Night in the Parish Centre

until 20h45.

Enquiries: Aldina on 083 303 5149 or aldina@mweb.co.za

4th Year Confirmation: The first session for the 4th Years will be on

Thursday, 23rd January 2020 at 18h00. This session will be a

meeting for Candidates, Parents and Sponsors. Hereafter, 4th

Confirmation sessions will be on Thursdays at 18h15.

Enquiries: Aldina on 083 303 5149 or aldina@mweb.co.za

The Redemptorist Community wish to thank each and every

parish member for their most generous Christmas Offering.

May you all be truly blessed.

REPOSITORY

• Living faith for Jan – March 2020 - Price R25.00

• Upper Room Jan – Feb R20.00

• Bible Diaries

• Liturgical Calendars

SECONDHAND BOOK SALES

Pam Cable wishes to thank you all for your support for 2019.

The book sales for 2019 was R1700.00